Magnetic nail holder



Allg- 11, 1953 R. P. INGRAHAM 2,648,066

MAGNETIC NAIL HOLDER Filed Aug. 18, 195.1

Patented Aug. 11, 1953 ,j

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAGNETIC NAIL HOLDER Robert P. Ingraham, San Antonio, Tex.

Application August 18, 1951, Serial No. 242,550

4 Claims. (Cl. 149.8)

l The present invention is directed to a magnetic type nail holder for positioning a nail and for holding the nail in the desired position along the surface of the Vobject into which the nail is to be driven.

The improved nail holder of the present invention includes a pair of confronting nail-engaging arms which are magnetized to receive a ferromagnetic object such as a nail between the end portions thereof and hold it in a steady position by virtue of the magnetic attraction of the magnetized arms for the nail. The nail holder assembly of the present'invention also includes a pair of oppositely disposed handle-receiving arm-s extending from the nail supporting arms at an obtuse angle (i. e., an angle larger` than 90 but less than 180) so that in use, a handle member inserted within the handle receiving portion supports the nail holder assembly without the danger of having the hammer strike the fingers of the person using the magnetic nail holder assemble.

Another feature of the present invention resides in shaping the nail engaging arms of the nail holder assembly in such a manner that they lie nat against the surface into which the nail is to be introduced, that is, in a plane substantially normal to the axis of the nail received between the nail engaging portions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved magnetic nail holder assembly provided with a support or handle member extending at an obtuse angle to the nail engaging arms of the nail holder assembly.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a permanently magnetized nail holder assembly having converging nail engaging arms arranged to accommodate any size of nail.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved magnetic nail holder assembly which is compact, economical to manufacture, and rugged in use.

A further description of the present invention will be made in connection with the attached sheet of drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a View in perspective of the improved nail holder of the present invention indieating the manner in which the same is attached to the end of an ordinary pencil;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the nail holder assembly of the present invention illustrating the manner in which the nail engaging arms of the assembly position the nail against the surface into which the nail is to be driven;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation of the improved nail holder assem' bly;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the assembly, illustrating with greater particularity the curvature of the nail engaging arms; and

Figure 5 is a plan View of a modified form of the nail holder assembly within the scope of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in Figures 1-4, inclusive, the im'- proved magnetic nail holder assembly of the present invention includes a cylindrical permanent magnet I0 preferably7 of a material having high eld strength, such as an Alnico magnet. Secured to the opposite faces of the permanent magnet I0, and hence to the opposite magnetic poles of the magnet, are a pair of sheet metal members II and I2 (Fig. 4) of ferromagnetic material such as steel. The magnet I0 has an axial bore which receives a pin I3, the pin extending through the members II and I2 and having en-` larged end portions I4 and I5 holding the members H and I2 against the Pole faces of the magi-'"1 net I0.

The strip members II and I2 are suitably crimped, as indicated in Figure 4, to provide a pair of nail engaging converging arms I6 and I1. Near the extreme ends of the arms I6 and I1, the arms are indented as indicated at I8 and I9 to provide an area between the arms of increased magnetic flux density. The extreme ends of the arms I6 and I1 are outwardly tapered as indicated at 20 and 2| so that nails of varying diameters can be received between the ends 20 and 2|. As indicated in Figure 2, the nail N is received in the nail holder assembly between the ends 20 and 2l and is heldin an upright position by the magnetic ux concentrated between the points I8 and I9. As also indicated in Figure 2, the base edges of the arms I6 and I'I, generally indicated at 22, lie in a plane which is substantially normal to the axis of the nail N. With this arrangement, the bottom edges 22 can be laid directly against the surface into which the nail is to be introduced, and the nail will be positioned along a line exactly perpendicular to that surface.

As best indicated in Figure 4, the opposite ends of the sheet metal members I I and I2 are formed to provide a pair of semi-cylindrical handle receiving members 23 and 24. As best indicated in Figure 2, the handle receiving members 23 and 24 extend at an obtuse angle with respect to the nail holding arms I6 and I'I. Thus, when a handle member, which may conveniently be an ordinary pencil P, is received bythe handle element 26, to decrease the flexibility of theV The spacer 28' nail engaging ends of the arms.

is held in xed position between therarms IS` and l1 by means of a pin having enlarged end portions 21 and 28 pressing portionsv of the arms I6 and I1 against the spacer 26,

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated'that the magnetic nail holding assembly of myy invention is simple in construction, yet rugged in use. By providing the handle engaging members of the assembly at an obtuse angle to the nail engagingportions, the nail to beV driven can be conveniently positioned against the surface into which it is to be driven, while the fingers of the user are not in proximity to the head of the nail. Furthermore, byy providing the nat bottom edges to the nail holding portions of the holder assembly, the nail can be positioned accurately against the surface in an uprightposition.

It will be understoodthat modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A magnetic nail holder assembly comprising a permanent magnet, a pairv of arms secured to opposite poles of said magnet, theV ends of said arms being ared outwardly to receive and hold a nail thereagainst, and a handle extending from said arms at an obtuse angle to said arms.

2. A magnetic nail holder assembly comprising a permanent magnet, a pair of converging arms secured to the opposite poles of said magnet, the ends of said arms being ared outwardly to receive and hold a nail thereagainst, the bottom edges of said arms lying in a plane substantially normal to the axis of a nail held between said ends, and a handle portion extending from said arms at an obtuse angle to said arms.

3. AU magnetic nail holder assembly comprising a permanent magnet, a pair of converging 4 arms secured to opposite poles of said magnet, the

extreme ends of said arms being flared outwardly to receive a nail thereagainst, each of said arms having a pair of extensions extending therefromat an obtuse angle with respect to the converging portions. thereof, said extensions being shaped Vto receive snugly an elongated supporting member.

4. A magnetic nail holder assembly comprisingv a permanent magnet, a pair of converging arms secured to opposite poles of said magnet, the ends of said arms being flared outwardly tore,- ceive and hold a nail thereagainst, a non-magnetic spacer element secured between said converging arms to hold said ends-spaced apartthe bottom edges of said arms lying in a plane sub.- stantially normal to the-axis of a nail held between said ends, and a handle portion extending from said arms at an obtuse angle to said arms.

ROBERT P. INGRAHAM.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,435,885 Wisroth l Nov. 14, 1922' 1,525,413 Pearson Feb. 3, 1925l 2,491,860 Ingraham Dec. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,414 Great Britain Mar. 13, 1893 22,446 GreatBritain ,Dec'. 10, 1900 

